Astronomy

The world's best-selling astronomy magazine offers you the most exciting, visually stunning, and timely coverage of the heavens above. Each monthly issue includes expert science reporting, vivid color photography, complete sky coverage, spot-on observing tips, informative telescope reviews, and much more! All this in a user-friendly style that's perfect for astronomers at any level.

Interstellar visitors

Astronomy

ASTRO LETTERS

A COSMIC PRETZEL • Astronomers get a clearer look than ever before at these forming stars, revealing complex rings.

HOT BYTES

CREATING THE UNIVERSE’S MOST POWERFUL MAGNETS • When two stars collide, the resulting product may explain rare, extremely magnetic objects called magnetars.

QUICK TAKES

Supermassive black holes stunt dwarf galaxies

THE SUN AND THE STARS

Young stars blow bubbles

Tiny star, giant planet

CURIOSITY SNAPS A CELEBRATORY SELFIE

Stellar database encourages amateur submissions

MARS’ SPLENDID SHOW

Farewell to a small universe • The edge of the cosmos sure is hard to find.

OUR FIRST INTERSTELLAR VISITOR • ‘Oumuamua zipped through the inner solar system in 2017, revealing just how little we know about planetary systems beyond our own.

MIGRATING JETS

IS ‘OUMUAMUA FLUFFY?

WHY DIDN’T WE SEE ‘OUMUAMUA SOONER?

Cataclysm in the EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM • Apollo astronauts gathered rocks that hinted that large objects pummeled the inner planets some 4 billion years ago. Now, scientists aren’t so sure.

FEBRUARY 2020 Mercury at its evening peak • THE SOLAR SYSTEM’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE AS IT APPEARS IN EARTH’S SKY.

RISING MOON • The mark of the Ram

METEOR WATCH • Discover the zodiac’s elusive glow

STAR DOME

PATHS OF THE PLANETS • This map unfolds the entire night sky from sunset (at right) until sunrise (at left). Arrows and colored dots show motions and locations of solar system objects during the month.

COMET SEARCH • Taking Stock with the Heart and Soul

LOCATING ASTEROIDS • Grabbing the Bull by its toes

Lowell Observatory TURNS 125 • More than a century after opening its doors, “America’s Observatory” remains a hotbed for scientific discovery and public outreach.

See Venus at its best • The planet named for the goddess of beauty is a stunning sight through any telescope, especially this spring.

OBSERVATIONAL TIMELINE • Here are some of the highlights of the last two and a half millennia of observations of Venus.

Astronomy’s electronic revolution • As ground-based telescopes approached their size limit in the early 20th century, new technologies focused on improving light detectors.

Observe winter’s TWIN TREATS • You’ll get twice the bang for your buck when you point your scope at these celestial pairings.

Celestron's Nature Binoculars • High-quality glass, light weight, and lots of features make the DX ED 10x50 worthy of your consideration.

Satellite tracking for amateurs • Where astronomy meets global politics.

February’s finest sights • Don’t scramble to see it all. Focus on the highlights.

Venus’ crescent • Can you make this difficult observation with your naked eyes?

NEW PRODUCTS

Elements in the Sun

Cosmic portraits

BREAKTHROUGH

April 2020 Venus meets the Pleiades

STAR DOME